The Easy as Pi race began three years ago as a way to raise money for the Woodard & Curran Foundation, a group that funds projects that support the environment.

The creators are engineers, so the idea of incorporating pi seemed fitting.

"A bunch of employees at Woodard & Curran got together and said we should do something about health and the environment and education and really build the foundation to support all those three things," said Brent Bridges, of Woodard & Curran.

"The conversations around the table were kind of like, well, what about ‘easy as pie?’ Everyone usually races for beer at the end so pie was a great concept and it's a great length of race," Woodard & Curran's Barry Scheff said.

The proceeds support nonprofits with environmental missions focused on creating a healthier world.

The 3.41-mile race started at 41 Hutchins Drive and wound its way through the Portland Trails. There was a kids' race, too.

"This is a good incentive to finish faster because you just think ‘pumpkin pie, I'm almost there.’” said runner Anne Hoeschen. "This is probably the best pumpkin pie I've had since I did a trail race in Virginia. This is very good."

RUNNERS AND WALKERS WILL HELP RAISE MONEY FOR A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES TODAY AS THEY WIND THEIR WAY THROUGH PORTLAND'S STROUDWATER AREA. AND BEST OF ALL, THIS RACE HAS áPIEá AT THE FINISH LINE FOR ALL THE PARTICIPANTS. W-M-T-W NEWS 8'S KATIE THOMPSON IS LIVE FROM THE THIRD ANNUAL áEASY AS PI ROAD AND TRAIL RACEá WITH MORE. GOOD MORNING KATIE.